Visit the banks of the river Allier, art nouveau in Vichy…
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and enjoy the nature, sport and health that Vichy has to offer you.

Reasons to visit Vichy – How to get there – Find out more about Vichy – The Irish connection – What to do – Where to stay – What to bring back - The surrounding area – What to read

At less than four hours (358 kms) from Paris, Vichy is an ideal city to visit for the weekend. To relax for a few days, and the chances are that you will want to come back again. Depending on the time of the year there are diverse escapades for discovering the patrimony of nature and culture. Steeped in history, sometimes tumultuous, Vichy invites you to visit and find your peace.

1-The Art Déco, Neo classic, neo Louis xv, Napoleon III and the famous school of Art Nouveau.
The style can be seen everywhere in the streets, the public buildings, in the parks and gardens….2 -The famous Vichy pastille3 - The thermal baths and waters of Vichy4 - The sporting life of Vichy: the high quality infrastructures for practicing more than 50 different types of sport on 500 hectares including 80 sports clubs… A multisport Centre of 120 hectares (unique in Europe), a waterway of 100 hectares equipped for all nautical sports, 2 golf courses (18 holes).A beach on the banks of the river Allier which is protected animated. All this within a few minutes of the city centre, Vichy is internationally known as a city for sports lovers and regularly welcomes world class events. Vichy was chosen in 2011 to organize canoe and kayak racing for the world championship course. This course is decisive for qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.5 -To discover the life of the Bourbons and of the Auvergne, the patrimony, roman churches, castles, the nature: hunting, fishing, hiking … to bring home memories of the charms of Vichy, the city of Napoleon III.6 -The cultural life of Vichy: Opera, concerts, shows. The Vichy Opera presents two seasons per year: this year’s Summer Season begins on June 23rd and runs until September 25th.7 - The thermal baths for well being, and the waters are famous throughout the world.The art of relaxation and enjoyment.8 -Vichy "au feminin": the famous carreau de Vichy imortalised by Brigitte Bordot 50 years ago when she got married in a dress of blue gingham designed in 1959 by couturier Jacques Esterel. The Vichyssoise is a thick soup made of puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and chicken stock. Traditionally served cold, but can also be eaten hot. It is also a famous feminine race...9 -The city is very involved in the ecological movement as witnessed by the Pont de l’Europe (known by followers of the Tour de France), where a salmon lift is installed to help preservethe stocks by the conservatoire national du Saumon sauvage.

10 - The city has rediscovered and reappropriated the river Allier, a tributary of the river Loire, which is a natural river , rare in Europe today.

L'Hôtel des Nations:
is in the city centre, two minutes from the Casino and the Opera.Ghislaine Barnabé and her team are ready to welcome you to this three star hotel with the flavour of area. The hotel has 71 rooms elegantly decorated by Ghislaine with the idea of making the hotel a warm and welcoming place.The restaurant has a menu composed of local fresh products in season masterfully cooked by Chef Gilbert Beurrier. The restaurant called Le Napoléon, where the dishes are full of flavour and not heavy on the digestion. This restaurant is for gourmets who enjoy eating healthily. One eats food with wonderful taste of herbs and vinegars and zero grease.

RESTAURANT : Maison DécoretJacques Decoret choose the centre of Vichy to open his restaurant after a remarkable and impressive career. Amongst the positions held as chef were chez Lorrain in Joigny, chez Troisgros in Roanne, chez Alain Passard in Arpege, chez Regis Marcon and finally receiving the blue white red collar of best ‘ouvrier de France’. A meal in his restaurant is really worthwhile.Jacques Décoret - 15, rue du Parc 03 Vichy : 04 70 97 65 06

One of the most attractive cafés in France: Le Grande Café de Moulins49, Place d’Allier 03000 Moulins 04 70 44 00 05
This is an art deco brasserie and is a classified as an historic monument. The décor is from 1889 and has been restored magnificently.

Château d'Ygrande is less than 100 kms from Vichy and is well worth the visit. The domain is splendid and includes the famous d’Haras d'Ygrande. To stay at Ygrande means enjoying elegance in a calm and refined atmosphere. The menu includes the wonderful flavors of the region, including fresh vegetables from the garden.

IRISH HISTORY AND VICHY

The Irish connection with Vichy is a literary one. Samuel Beckett and James Joyce.
At the outbreak of the war Beckett was in Ireland and immediately decided to leave for Paris as he preferred France at war than Ireland at peace. However with the invasion of the German army he left Paris with Joyce for Vichy. They stayed in the Hotel Beaujolais until it was requisioned by government of Vichy. The Joyces then moved to Saint-Gérand-le-Puy where they were lodged by a Parisian friend Madame Jolas. Beckett in the meantime continued his way, helped by Valery Larbaud, staying where he could via Toulouse, Cahors and Arcachon where he stayed for a few weeks at the Villa St Georges.
In 1940 he returned to Paris and joined the resistance (Gloria SMH), which was directed by Picabia’s daughter. In the summer of 1942 he had to flee the Gestapo and returned once again to Vichy, Avignon, and finally to find a haven in a little village Roussillon in the Vaucluse perched on high where he stayed until the beginning of 1945. While there he worked in the fields by day and started to write Watt (published in 1952 in Merlin and also by Olympia Press in 1953). He was helped by his family in Ireland who regularly sent him money by post.
Each year the city of Vichy awards the Valery Larbaud prize to an aspiring writer.

WHAT TO BRING BACK FROM VICHY ?

-WATER : Vichy is the city of water par excellence, both thermal baths and mineral water.The mineral springs.
Of Vichy fall under the family of bicarbonate soda and are rich in oligo elements. Six water springs are used for drinking at the thermal station: Source Chomel 43° - Source Grande Grille 39° - Source Hopital 34° - Source Lucas 27° - Source du Parc 23.8° - Source des Célestis 22°. A therapeutic range which offers thermal medecin to each patient according to his needs.Vichy waters are also on the dinner table with Vichy St-Yorre, Vichy Célestins ...
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Cheeses : We are in Pays Vichy-Auvergne and an impressive list including Saint-Nectaire, Cantal, Fourme d’Ambert, Blue d’Auvergne, all with the label AOC
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Wines : Saint Pourçain AOC
- Du linge de table, des objets ou des vêtements en vichy